上告 (shàng gào) — to appeal (to a higher authority, e.g. in court or within an organization); to report (a matter) to one's superior

Definition

Formal/legal verb meaning 'to appeal to a higher authority' (a court ruling) or 'to report upward' to a superior. Carries an official, institutional tone — not everyday 'tell the boss.'

verb
to appeal (to a higher authority, e.g. in court or within an organization)to report (a matter) to one's superior

Examples

  • ，上告。
    Tā duì pàn jué bù fú, jué dìng xiàng shàng yī jí fǎ yuàn shàng gào.
    He was dissatisfied with the verdict and decided to appeal to the higher court.
  • ，上告。
    Yuán gōng rú guǒ yù dào bù gōng píng dài yù, kě yǐ xiàng gōng sī gāo céng shàng gào.
    If employees encounter unfair treatment, they can report it to senior management.
  • 上告。
    Zhè ge àn jiàn yǐ jīng shàng gào dào zuì gāo rén mín fǎ yuàn le.
    This case has already been appealed to the Supreme People's Court.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
偏正piānzhèngModifier + head

The first part narrows down the second: it says what kind of thing the head is.

上shàngupward
告gàoreport

上 points to a higher authority, and 告 means to report or accuse; together they mean to bring a report upward.

Characters in this word

An abstract idea shown by a mark or a diagram rather than by a picture of an object.

上 is drawn as a short horizontal line placed above a longer arc, marking a position above that arc.

Open 上 →

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

The origin is unclear: one theory sees 告 as 壴 (a decorated drum) above 口 (an open mouth), while another sees a tongue sticking out of 口.

Open 告 →

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